"Yeah, I'm not at all sure that it matters whether he exists or not."

"Well. Changes whether Men here get an afterlife."

"Matters for practical purposes," she amends. "If he exists but doesn't do anything to prove it then as far as we can act on it's the same as if he didn't."

"Yes, agreed."

"I hope resurrecting human dead can be done."

"No one's ever done it?"

"Sssort of. The record for how long anyone's been able to get someone back after they've been dead is just under an hour."

"Well, that's something, means it can be done at all."

"The problem, really, is that it takes centuries to get that far. What worries me is the possibility that no one who's already dead now could come back."

She nods. "We've been assuming that they cannot."

"And that's a problem and I want to figure out how to fix it and it concerns me somewhat."

"It's a good aim. It'd be wonderful if it were possible."

"I expect it to take a very long time, if it is."

"Well, once the war's over we'll have that."

"Yeah. Lots of stuff that's waiting on the end of the war."

"It's been a pleasure talking with you, Odette. I'd be delighted to accompany you on any project where I'd be of assistance."

"Thanks. Uh, to whatever extent you may feel obligated to say that by the current political situation--I'm not saying you are, just that it would be a reasonable thing to do--anyway if you don't actually want to do any given thing please don't feel like you can't say it."

"Understood." She smiles. "Very much. Good day and safe travels, Odette."

"Should I give your people time to--get packed and things?"

"Yes, definitely. Packed and food gathered and - you know, just warned about things. And it's probably worth thinking about how the city'll be defended, too, if you don't want to be glued to it."

"I think that particular ball is mostly in Illia's court, but yes."

"I expect she's getting well-advised on it. The Elves do know a lot about that."

"They've been very helpful. I think they may be more interested in staying on our-particularly-my good side rather than extracting specific things from us."

"Well, I wouldn't be complaining."

"It's working."